Anderson Cooper confirms he’s a daddy

Openly gay CNN television journalist Anderson Cooper has revealed that he has become a father after the birth of his son.

An emotional Cooper, 52, surprised the world on Thursday when he announced on air that Wyatt Morgan Cooper had been born days earlier via a surrogate.

“I just wanted to take some time to share some joyful news of my own. On Monday I became a father. I’ve never actually said that before out loud and it still kind of astonishes me. I am a dad. I have a son and I want you to meet him,” said Cooper.

The news was unexpected as it was not publicly known that the anchor was trying to have a child. In a post on Instagram, Cooper shared more images of his young son alongside a heartfelt message about becoming a father.

“This is Wyatt Cooper. He is three days old. He is named after my father, who died when I was ten. I hope I can be as good a dad as he was. My son. He was 7.2 lbs at birth, and he is sweet, and soft, and healthy and I am beyond happy,” Cooper wrote.

“As a gay kid, I never thought it would be possible to have a child, and I’m grateful for all those who have paved the way, and for the doctors and nurses and everyone involved in my son’s birth.

“Most of all, I am grateful to a remarkable surrogate who carried Wyatt, and watched over him lovingly, and tenderly, and gave birth to him. It is an extraordinary blessing – what she, and all surrogates give to families who can’t have children. My surrogate has a beautiful family of her own, a wonderfully supportive husband, and kids, and I am incredibly thankful for all the support they have given Wyatt and me. My family is blessed to have this family in our lives

“I do wish my mom and dad and my brother, Carter, were alive to meet Wyatt, but I like to believe they can see him. I imagine them all together, arms around each other, smiling and laughing, happy to know that their love is alive in me and in Wyatt, and that our family continues,” said Cooper.

Cooper is the son of the late artist, fashion designer, writer, and heiress Gloria Vanderbilt. He is the primary anchor of the CNN news show Anderson Cooper 360° and is also a correspondent for 60 Minutes.

Described as one of the most prominent openly gay journalists on American television, he came out publicly in a 2012 letter, stating: “The fact is, I’m gay, always have been, always will be, and I couldn’t be any more happy, comfortable with myself, and proud.”

 

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I want to share with you some joyful news. On Monday, I became a father. This is Wyatt Cooper. He is three days old. He is named after my father, who died when I was ten. I hope I can be as good a dad as he was. My son’s middle name is Morgan. It’s a family name on my mom’s side. I know my mom and dad liked the name morgan because I recently found a list they made 52 years ago when they were trying to think of names for me. Wyatt Morgan Cooper. My son. He was 7.2 lbs at birth, and he is sweet, and soft, and healthy and I am beyond happy. As a gay kid, I never thought it would be possible to have a child, and I’m grateful for all those who have paved the way, and for the doctors and nurses and everyone involved in my son’s birth. Most of all, I am grateful to a remarkable surrogate who carried Wyatt, and watched over him lovingly, and tenderly, and gave birth to him. It is an extraordinary blessing – what she, and all surrogates give to families who cant have children. My surrogate has a beautiful family of her own, a wonderfully supportive husband, and kids, and I am incredibly thankful for all the support they have given Wyatt and me. My family is blessed to have this family in our lives I do wish my mom and dad and my brother, Carter, were alive to meet Wyatt, but I like to believe they can see him. I imagine them all together, arms around each other, smiling and laughing, happy to know that their love is alive in me and in Wyatt, and that our family continues.

A post shared by andersoncooper (@andersoncooper) on Apr 30, 2020 at 6:51pm PDT